The European Commission authorised, on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 April, several State Aid schemes to support businesses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They were authorised under the Temporary Framework for State Aid adopted by the Commission on 19 March, as amended on 3 April 2020.
Slovenia. Slovenia has notified to the Commission a €2 billion “umbrella” scheme including a dozen of measures to support companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Public support will take the form of direct grants, wage subsidies, exemption from paying social security contributions, reduction of certain taxes and water fees, bank guarantees, deferred payment of certain credits and compensatory payments.
France. On Friday 24 April, the Commission validated a French guarantee scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) whose export activities are suffering as a result of the pandemic. The scheme is expected to mobilise €150 million. The support, in the form of State guarantees on loans, will be accessible to all French exporting companies with an annual turnover below €1.5 billion.
Spain. This is the second National Temporary Framework for State Aid to support Spanish companies. Public aid may be granted in various forms (aid for coronavirus relevant research and development, investment aid for testing and upscaling infrastructures, investment aid for the production of coronavirus relevant products, aid in the form of deferrals of tax and/or social security contributions, wage subsidies for employees to avoid lay-offs, etc.)
Lithuania. The Commission has validated a €5 million scheme to support SMEs active in road freight transport (direct grants). The scheme is designed to cover interest on existing debts until 31 December 2020 and for a maximum period of six months.
Bulgaria. On 23 April, the Commission authorised a €150 million Bulgarian scheme to support SMEs. The public support will take the form of equity and quasi-equity investments. The scheme, which will be open to SMEs active in all sectors, with certain exceptions defined by Bulgaria, aims at enhancing access to liquidity by those companies, which are most severely affected by the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, thus helping them to continue their activities, start investments and maintain employment. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)